Ollie Benny Stephens Sr.

Ollie Benny Stephens Sr., 77, of Flowery Branch, GA, passed away Oct. 9, 2017, following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, with interment at Memorial Park South Cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour before the service. Rev. Dr. Emerson Ross will officiate. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, at Memorial Park South Funeral Home.

Born in Belmont, GA, he was the son of the late Anderson Sr. and Katie Mae (Maddox) Stephens. He was a retired supervisor of Fieldale Farms Corp., and was a deacon at Cross Plains Baptist Church. He loved the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, and the UGA Bulldogs. He knew the value of hard work and often had two or three jobs at the same time. He once owned a lawn care business with his son. They sold the business and it’s currently still operating today under another name. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Emma Jean (Cheeks) Stephens, son Ollie Benny Stephens Jr., son-in-law Vincent F. Stringer, in-laws John Henry Edward and Emmerline Cheeks, and a number of other relatives.

Survivors include his daughters Deborah S. Minnis, Tallahassee, FL, and Sandra S. Stringer, Flowery Branch, GA; daughter-in-law Janis W. Stephens, Lilburn, GA; grandchildren Kassandra R. Stephens, Madison, AL; Sarah J. Stephens, New England; Kyle B. Stephens, Kennesaw, GA; and Alexis K. Stringer, Flowery Branch, GA; sister Frances Armstrong, Los Angeles, CA, brothers and sisters-in-law Bobby R. and Carolyn Stephens, Oxford, GA, and Anderson Jr. and Susan Stephens, Fall River, Mass.; sisters-in-law Geraldine Stephens, Flowery Branch, GA; Lois Stephens, Pasadena, CA, Eva Stephens, Gainesville, GA, and Marie Stephens, Maryland; brother-in-law Michael Ward, Maryland; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dr. Eddie and Monique Cheeks, Augusta, GA, and a host of other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 4000 Thurmond Tanner Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542.

Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, GA 30542, is in charge of arrangements. Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.